Groups call for better quality control of Hong Kong's elderly homes

Grass-roots groups have accused the government of being irresponsible and uncaring towards Hong Kong's elderly, with many also rejecting the idea of a voucher scheme to subsidise old people living in private care homes.

Voucher schemes would only increase the private homes' profits and encourage them to demand higher fees, some groups told the Legislative Council's welfare panel yesterday.

They were discussing quality control of the city's private homes for the elderly, an especially pressing issue since the Cambridge Nursing Home in Tai Po was exposed for leaving residents naked on a rooftop while they waited for a shower.

"We've talked about this for years. How many more years do you want to take? Every time a tragedy like this happens, [the government] expresses sorrow, but here we are, still only discussing this issue," said social worker Chan Siu-ming of the Reclaiming Social Work Movement.

Chan said if the government did not cap private homes' profits, even setting up a subsidised voucher scheme would not improve the quality of their services.

Since the alleged abuse in Tai Po was photographed, members of the public and people in the elderly services industry have come forward with tales of similar mistreatment in homes, blaming a lack of both manpower and government supervision.